Last month, Microsoft announced the launch of three new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. Technically the same as the current consoles, they’re said to have more internal storage and a slight facelift. The catch? They’ll still have an eye-wateringly high price tag.
But thanks to a new partnership between Xbox and Amazon, you don’t have to invest in a new console if you want to play all of the best Xbox games. Starting this month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can play cloud-enabled games through the Xbox app on select Fire TV Stick devices.
That means games like Star field, Forza Horizon 5 And Autumn 4 more accessible than ever, and all you need is a compatible Fire TV Stick and a Bluetooth controller (which is much cheaper than a new Xbox Series X) to start playing.
Better yet, because it all works on a Fire TV Stick, you can pull it out of your TV and take your Xbox games with you on vacation or to your friend’s house. Here’s how to start playing Game Pass Ultimate games on your TV.
Step 1: Purchase a compatible Fire TV Stick
Not all Fire TV Sticks can play games on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Unfortunately, even if you have a Fire TV Stick 4K, it will need to be one released in 2023 in order to play cloud-based games.
There are just two compatible Fire TV Sticks: the second-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max and a second-gen Fire TV Stick 4K. The former costs £69.99 and the latter £59.99, a fraction of the cost of an Xbox Series X. What’s more, they’ll likely be on sale during Prime Day, too.
Amazon’s latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming stick is faster and smarter than its previous first-generation model. It features a new quad-core processor, Wi-Fi 6E support, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. You get twice the internal storage (16GB vs. 8GB) so you can store more apps and games, and you get the new Alexa voice remote with channel and recent content buttons.
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The Amazon Fire TV 4K is 30 percent more powerful than the first-generation model, thanks to a quad-core processor inside. Like the previous model, it supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR, HLG, and HDR10+.
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Step 2: Download the Xbox app on your Fire TV Stick
Once you’ve powered up your Fire TV Stick, head over to the Amazon App Store and download the Xbox app, then sign in with your Microsoft account. If you’re already an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you’ll have immediate access to stream and play hundreds of cloud-enabled titles in the Game Pass Ultimate library. If you’re not, you can sign in within the app.
However, the most cost-effective way is to purchase an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership online, where you will find better deals.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate normally costs £12.99 per month – that’s pretty darn affordable. For a whole catalogue of new Xbox games to play every month. But if you buy a membership through renowned digital game code retailer CD Keys rather than direct through Xbox, you can save £4.50 per month.
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Step 3: Connect a Bluetooth controller
Finally, connect a compatible Bluetooth controller to your Fire TV Stick. Most Bluetooth controllers should work (Microsoft has a list of compatible controllers on its website ), but if you have an Xbox Wireless Controller, an Xbox Adaptive Controller, or even a PlayStation DualSense or DualShock 4 controller, you’re good to go.
What is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
Xbox Game Pass is like a Netflix subscription, but for Xbox games. New games are added every month, including brand new releases. There are hundreds of games in the catalog, including Star field, Autumn 4 And Forza Horizon 5.
In addition to games on your Fire TV Stick, you can also download games directly to your PC to play both online and offline. You’ll also get free access to new games every month, as well as members-only sales.
Looking for the best Xbox games? We’ve rounded up our favorites